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Making her first start since Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs on the Breeders’ Cup undercard, John Oxley’s 4-year-old filly Dancinginherdreams looked very good winning a $56,500 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles Sunday at Gulfstream Park, drawing off to score by a length as the 13-to-10 favorite under jockey Edgar Prado.

Trained by John Ward, Jr., the roan/gray daughter of Tapit sat a stalking trip third down the backstretch as longshot Annunciata set the pace in the field of seven fillies and mares before coming up to duel for the lead at the top of the stretch with second choice Majestic Maria. Howard Whitbread’s Go Unbridled rallied for second as Majestic Maria tired to finish another 3 ¾ lengths back in third.

“It’s great to have her back,” Ward said. “Actually, she was ready to run about six weeks ago and then she bruised a foot and we had to wait, but sometimes things like that work out for the best. We had great expectations for her last year that just didn’t work out. I liked the way she got to use that big, long stride of hers to pull away in the stretch today. She’s definitely matured since last year and trains by herself. She had to go with a pony last year.”

Purchased for $330,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sales, Dancinginherdreams was considered a top Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospect after winning both of her starts as a 2-year-old at Churchill impressively, but disappointed when finishing second as the favorite in both Forward Gal Stakes (G2) and Davona Dale Stakes (G2) here early last year.

She didn’t make it to the post for the Kentucky Oaks after another dull try when ninth in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in April before going to the sidelines. In two starts last fall, she finished second in a Keeneland allowance and was beaten a length when second in the Dream Supreme Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Classic Day.

Quote of the Day “I don’t know about that. I’m not sure I want her to see Awesome Feather for $150,000 at this point. You don’t wan t to play the University of Kentucky (basketball) at home either.” Trainer John Ward on the possibility of running Dancinginherdreams in the March 31 Rampart (G2).

Who’s Hot: Jockey Paco Lopez, leading rider at the Gulfstream meet the last two years, went into Sunday’s program in tie for fifth in the standings currently, but put together three winners on the card to move up to third in the standings with 35 wins, although still well back of Javier Catellano and John Velazquez first and second.

Work of the Day: Chadds Ford Stable’s 3-year-old Union Rags worked a half-mile out of the gate at Palm Meadows Sunday morning in :48 4/5 with regular exercise rider Peter Brett aboard for his final tune-up for his highly-anticipated 2012 season debut in next Sunday’s $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park.

A son of Dixie Union, Union Rags is widely-regarded a the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) as he makes his first start since finishing second by a head as the favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. Tentative plans call for Union Rags to run in the Fountain of Youth and then the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) here on Mar. 31 before heading to Kentucky.